Ditchers

The Ditchers were so-called because they were prepared to stand in a "last-ditch" attempt against the Liberal government reforms to the constitution. Many of the nobility were determined to prevent David Lloyd George introducing the Parliament Act 1911. The Lords had delayed the 'People's budget' of 1909, which the Chancellor of Exchequer had brought forward to increase taxation, and start some form of welfarism. The 1911 act presented a fait accompli to the Lords by certifying the Commons traditional conventional power to create finance bills. No longer could the Lords forestall Treasury legislation. The power to delay was commenced for a period of two years only. Lloyd George famously threatened to advise King George V to create five hundred Liberal peers if the Lords did not yield their ancient privileges. A music hall song alluded to these potential lords with the line "Lloyd George knew my father, my father knew Lloyd George."